Defence industry banks on wave of deals to lift trade

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Docked in Rio de Janeiro as part of a concerted push to sell British defence
equipment, HMS Ocean looks an imposing show of military muscle.

A crowd on the flight deck watched as officers from the Brazilian military
rode in armed speedboats and a Griffon hovercraft. On the ship’s hangar
deck, bunting was draped behind two helicopters for a gala dinner, while a
Royal Navy band practised.

“The whole visit will be conducted with the ceremony that Britain is famous
for,” said Simon Carter, the logistics commander.

“This is UK plc,” said Gerald Howarth, the Minister for International Security
Strategy,